SANDY, Utah (Thursday, August 24, 2017) – Real Monarchs SLC (16-3-4, 52 points, USL #1 / West #1) return home this weekend for a Friday night regular-season contest against Rio Grande Valley, hosting the Toros for a 7:00 p.m. MT kickoff. The Rio Tinto Stadium box office is open Mon.-Fri., 10a-6p; more information can be found online at www.RSL.com/Tickets. Current or interested RSL Royalty Season Ticket Members can purchase extra tickets at preferred pricing or gain assistance via the Fan Relations Hotline at 801-727-2702.
The Monarchs enter home games each of the next two weekends with a 12-game unbeaten run in Sandy dating back to last year, which includes the club’s 10-0-1 mark at the “RioT” thus far in 2017. Despite seeing its 10-game home win streak snapped with the July 31 0-0 draw against visiting Tulsa, the Monarchs retain confidence at Rio Tinto Stadium, where the club boasts a 10-0-1 mark this year and has lost just once in its last 17 games.
Head Coach Mark Briggs’ club earned a 2-2 road draw at Swope Park Rangers in Kansas City last Friday, improving its impressive 6-3-3 mark away from home in 2017. Early goals from both FW Daniel Haber – on a scintillating free kick from distance – and DF Kyle Curinga gave the visitors a two-goal halftime lead, the Monarchs ultimately earning a valuable road point in its first-ever trip to Swope Park.
Entering Friday, the Monarchs pursue several goals within reach during the final nine games of the campaign, including clinching its first-ever postseason berth, the No. 1 overall seed in the 2017 postseason, as well as new USL records for wins (21), points (69) and goals (61).
How to Follow Real Monarchs SLC v. Rio Grande Valley Toros – Fri., August 25, 2017
- Coverage Begins: 7:00 p.m. MT
- Local Stream:www.RSL.com or www.USLsoccer.com w/ Landon Southwick & Carla Haslam
- English Radio: ESPN700 AM
- Spanish Radio: 1600 AM / 102.3 FM
- Online: The @RealMonarchs Twitter feed provides updates
Game Notes for Friday’s Monarchs v. RGV Toros game Available Online
The link to the Adobe PDF version of the Game Guide in advance of Friday’s contest between Real Monarchs SLC and Rio Grande Valley is available at this link. If you have any problems obtaining the document, would prefer to receive it as an attachment, or are seeking more information on the match, please contact Trey Fitz-Gerald in the RSL Communications Department via email at tfitz@RSL.com.
The scintillating 2017 Real Monarchs / USL season continues Friday, approaching the final third of the 32-game regular season, as Head Coach Mark Briggs’ USL pacesetters – with a 16-3-4 mark and a league-leading 51 points – claim the league’s top goal differential, +24 with 48 goals scored and 24 allowed in just 23 games, occupying first place overall in the USL, seven clear of San Antonio FC in the West and now eight ahead of both East leaders, Louisville City FC and Charlotte Independence in the race for home-field advantage in the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs.
Opening earlier today, the Zions Bank Real Academy training campus arrives in Herriman, Utah, approximately 20 minutes southwest of Rio Tinto Stadium. The $72 million facility – which includes five grass “TORO Fields” (sod installation began earlier this month) – will serve as the daily training home beginning in 2018 for both of the club's professional teams – RSL (MLS) and Real Monarchs (USL) – while centralizing the club's U-18, U-16 and future U-14 development academy youth selections, under the supervision of Academy Director Martin Vasquez . The Herriman facility will provide adjacencies for an on-site charter school with STEM disciplines (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) for nearly 200 boys and girls.
Opening in early October in North Logan, Utah, after breaking ground a year ago, RSL Owner Dell Loy Hansen will dedicate the first of a half-dozen regional training centers across Utah and Arizona to be built in the next 24-36 months. Each $5 million RTC houses a classroom, as well as an indoor and outdoor field, dedicated to fulfilling a curriculum consistent with the club's vision and mission for youth soccer training and education, and the continued development of both recreational and competitive pre-Academy (ages 7-12) initiatives across Utah and Arizona.
